The most famous event in the state of Kentucky (USA) is the Kentucky Derby – one of the most renowned horse racing festivals in North America, held at Churchill Downs, outside Louisville. This spectacular race consistently attracts a huge number of visitors every year.
History of Churchill Downs
Horse racing in North America is a huge money-making industry, worth tens of millions of dollars. Racehorses in North America typically begin racing when they are just two years old. The biggest races in North America are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont. These three races are exclusively for three-year-old horses and are collectively known as "The Triple Crown".
To date, only 12 horses have won all three races in a single year. These are Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), and American Pharoah (2015).
Horse racing in Kentucky has a rich history, dating back to 1789 when the first racing course was held in Lexington. However, it wasn't until nearly 100 years later, in 1875, that Churchill Downs officially opened and began its tradition as "Home of the Kentucky Derby".
The founding of Churchill Downs began in 1872, when Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark traveled to England and France. Clark attended the Epsom Derby in England, which sparked his ambition to create a similar horse racing event in America. Upon his return, Clark began developing the racetrack with the intention of showcasing Kentucky's horse breeding industry, and it eventually became known as "Churchill Downs".
Churchill Downs spans 147 acres, with its most significant structure being the Twin Spires, an architectural feature atop the grandstand that has become a globally recognized symbol of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. Designed by architect Joseph Dominic Baldez and built in 1895, the towers continue to shine brightly on this legendary racetrack.
Churchill Downs held its inaugural official race on May 17, 1875. In this first race, Meriwether Lewis Clark created three major races – the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Clark Handicap. These were modeled after three of England's top racing series – the Epsom Derby, Epsom Oaks, and St. Leger Stakes. Today, Churchill Downs is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated and currently holds the record for the longest continuously running sporting event in the United States. In 1875, the inaugural race attracted nearly 10,000 spectators and set the stage for an annual festival now recognized worldwide, with a record attendance of over 170,000 people. Despite numerous changes over the past three centuries, the Kentucky Derby is known as a race with "the two most exciting minutes in sport," as each race lasts only about that amount of time.
Legend of a race track
Known as the "Bluegrass State"—the home of bluegrass and bluegrass music—Kentucky is a state of bustling cities, endless grasslands, the world's longest cave system, home to boxing champion Muhammad Ali, and of course, KFC—Kentucky Fried Chicken. A vacation in Kentucky offers exactly what you're looking for, whether it's listening to bluegrass music at a fair, attending a concert, or relaxing by the state's many lakes. Among these, watching horse racing is a truly memorable experience!
Known as the home of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, Churchill Downs Racecourse hosts three thoroughbred horse races in the spring, September, and fall.
The track stretches across a mile of dusty dirt road with two oval corners, each featuring seven racing lanes. In addition to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, which have been held continuously here since 1875, Churchill Downs Racetrack has also hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championship nine times.
To learn more about this event, visitors can visit the Kentucky Derby Museum. Since 1985, the museum has been dedicated to preserving the history of the Kentucky Derby, offering visitors a fascinating journey through the history of the derby matches via various exhibitions and films. Visitors can witness firsthand the horses being raised and trained from birth until the jockeys transform them into champions in races.
In 2007, after visiting Jamestown, Virginia – the first British settlement in America – Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and her husband, Prince Philip, were present to cheer on the Kentucky Derby race.
The 2017 horse race set a record with nearly $100 million wagered. Of course, the revenue generated from tourist spending during that period was undoubtedly much greater than that!
Don't forget the tournament's "special features".
Kentucky is famous for its Bourbon whiskey, or corn whiskey, and the "Bourbon Trail" tourist corridor established by the Kentucky Wine Association (KDA). But the Kentucky Derby is also known for its distinctive wide-brimmed hats and the alcoholic beverage called "Mint Julep."
The women wear colorful wide-brimmed hats as part of a fashion show showcasing all kinds of hats at each race. It's like a "secret competition" in the stands, and also a unique and indispensable part of the event while the horses compete on the racetrack!
Mint Julep, on the other hand, was the everyday drink for working under the scorching sun on the farm. By 1939, Mint Julep had become the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, with over 130,000 glasses of Mint Julep consumed at Churchill Downs racetrack alone. Perhaps Mint Julep is a "magical" drink that transcends the boundaries of a typical cocktail found in bars.
Mint Julep is made with simple ingredients: just a few mint leaves mixed with sugar, water, bourbon whiskey, and crushed ice. It originated as a drink for people in the Southern states who generally disliked fussiness. Bourbon is the main ingredient and the only type of whiskey in Mint Julep, so it's especially important to choose a good quality one. It must be aged for at least four to six years. It's also said that if you go to Kentucky and haven't tried bourbon, you're still in another state.
So let's take a sip of Mint Julep and 'welcome to the Kentucky Derby'!
Travel information:
- The racetrack opened on April 27, 2019 and featured several events: Opening Night – April 27, Champions Day and Dawn at the Down – April 30, Derby Week Racing – April 30 and May 1, Thurby – May 2.
- Tickets vary depending on the race date, location, whether they include food and drinks, or are general admission, reserved, or in a private VIP room. Prices start from $41 USD. Buying tickets online at https://www.churchhilldowns.com/tickets/ will save you a lot of time compared to queuing at the gate.
- The Kentucky Derby Museum is holding a “Tours of Churchill Downs” starting at 8:00 AM daily from April 22nd to May 1st, a 4-hour tour of the racetrack. Tour price: $225/person (Includes museum admission and lunch at a local restaurant). Address: Kentucky Derby Museum, 704 Central Road, Louisville, KY 40208 - Phone: (502) 637-1111.
- The racetrack is located near Louisville International Airport, so there are many hotels around, such as Four Points Sheraton, Ramada Wyndham, Courtyard Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, etc. However, during race season, rooms are often fully booked or prices are quite high, ranging from $175 to $246. Alternatively, you can book a 4-day, 3-night package at Galt House - the official hotel of the race - through GaltHouse.com.
- Many items are prohibited at the racetrack. See: https://www.churchhilldowns.com/visit/info/security-information
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